Sunscreen may hurt, not help

And according to AOL News, the Food and Drug Administration may have failed to mention it.

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Hundreds of the most popular sunscreens on the market were found to possibly speed up the spread of skin cancer as well as the development of malignant cells because they contain vitamin A or other derivatives that are similar to it, according to AOL News.

Sure, vitamin A slows skin-aging and may help protect against sunburn, but its presence in sunscreen will not help protect skin against the harsh and dangerous ultraviolet light of the sun, according to AOL News.

The Environmental Working Group conducted an extensive amount of research in which 785 sunscreens with an SPF rating of 15 or higher were tested. Researches found that 84 percent of these sunscreens contained ingredients that posed health concerns and provided inadequate protection from the sun’s rays.

According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 1,000,000 new cases of skin cancer were reported in 2009. Had the FDA released information to the public regarding unsafe sunscreen, could some of these cases have been prevented?

The agency is still ‘unaware’ of the studies that were conducted in the past.

An FDA spokesperson told AOL News that “we have thoroughly checked and are not aware of any studies.”

Documents, however, were found from the FDA and the National Toxicology Program suggesting otherwise.

“Retinyl palmitate was selected by (FDA’s) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition for photo-toxicity and photocarcinogenicity testing based on the increasingly widespread use of this compound in cosmetic retail products for use on sun-exposed skin,” which was stated in an October 2000 report by the National Toxicology Program and reported by AOL News.

According to AOL News, the FDA’s own website discussed animal studies that were conduced at the National Center for Toxicological Research.